Diaphragm for car-vestibules.



Patented Mar. 25, I902. J. H. DONALDSON & H. H. SCHRUYEB.

DIAPHRAGM FOR CAR VESTIBULES.

(Application filed Aug. 22, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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Y/Vi 13-25525.

N0. 695,9]8. Patented Mar. 25, I902.

J. H. DONALDSON & H. H. SCHROYEB.

DIAPHRAGM FDR CAR VESTIBULES.

(Application filed Aug. 22, 1901.)

2 Shaets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.

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rrnn Sterne JAMES H. DONALDSON AND HARRY I'I. SCHROYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THEMSELVES AND E. J. W'ARD COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF CAR-VESTIBULES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,918, dated March 25, 1902.

Application filed August 22, 1901. Serial No. 72,891. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES H. DONALD- SON and HARRY H. SCHROYER, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, in the 5 county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Diaphragms for Car-Vestibules; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates more particularly to vestibule diaphragms for cars or the like I constructed from a plurality of strips firmly joined edge to edge to provide the usual extensible accordion folds or plaits.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction at once cheap, attractive, and

durable and of great strength, thereby being practically self-sustainin g or, in other words, holding the same from sagging or getting out of position when in use.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and more fully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of a car-vestibule provided with a diaphragm embodying our invention. Fig.

0 2 is a horizontal section through one side or leg of the diaphragm. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate means for fastening the seams. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the wires omitted. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the strips 3 5 of diaphragm material formed ready for use. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a diaphragm constructed of a plurality of strips such as shown in Fig. 6. tion through one of the legs of the diaphragm illustrated in Fig. 7.

As shown in said drawings, said diaphragm is constructed of a plurality of strips A and A, of fabric or other suitable material, having a width slightly greater than the folds of 5 a completed diaphragm. Said strips are each folded along one margin to form the overlap Ct ct, which is adapted to engage over the plain or unfolded edge of the adjacent strip, as shown in Fig. 2. Said corners or seams are Fig. 8 is a horizontal sec-- 1 then permanently closed byriveting, stapling, sewing, or the like through said overlap and through both of the strips to form a permanent seam. Said strips A and A may obviously be cut of any desired length, and, if preferred, the same may be woven or otherwise constructed so as to form the top and each leg of a diaphragm fold integrally from a single strip, thereby avoiding transverse seams at the turns or bends at each upper corner of the diaphragm. Inasmuch as said strips may be composed of a fabric similar to cotton-belting and of two or more ply, it is obvious that the thickness of the seams and stiffness of the material form a stay, greatly increasing the strength of the diaphragm and tending to prevent the top sagging out of position. As a further improvement a strong rod or wire (indicated by B and B) is inclosed in each of the longitudinal seams on the outer and inner sides of the diaphragm and extends over the top and down each side of the same, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, and forms a rigid support for the diaphragm vertically.

Obviously it is not essential that the strips used in the construction of the diaphragm be approximately equal to the Width ofthe diaphragm. The same may conveniently be constructed of approximately double the width of the diaphragm. As shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, a single strip forms two folds. In this construction the strips of fabric of which the diaphragm is composed are shown woven or otherwise constructed to conform to the general shape of the diaphragm. Each of said strips A has a narrower and a wider side 0 0, respectively, of which the latter is folded over at its margin to form the overlap c to receive the next succeeding lap c, as shown in Fig. 8. As shown, the wires B and B may conveniently be used in this construction, as shown in Fig. 8. Said seams may be riveted, stapled, or otherwise permanently closed.

Obviously many different materials may be used in the construction of diaphragms embodying our invention, and many details of construction may be varied without departing from the principle thereof.

We claim as our invention-- 1. A diaphragm for vestibules, comprising a plurality of strips of fabric each having one edge bent over longitudinally and forming a lap-seam in which is engaged the margin of the next adjacent strip by means of rivets or the like.

2. A diaphragm for vestibules, comprising a plurality of strips of fabric each having one edge bent over longitudinally and forming a lap-seam in which is engaged the margin of the next adjacent strip by means of rivets or thelike and a rigid strip secured in said lapseam.

3. A diaphragm for car-vestibules,comprising a plurality of strips of material bent 1ongitudinally at one of its edges and forming a lap seam with a corresponding strip, said strips being constructed integrally to conform to the curvature of the top of the diaphragm.

4. In a car-diaphragm, a plurality of strips of fabric each having one edge bent longitudinally thereof and adapted to receive and lap over the edge of an adjacent strip, a rod secured in said bend or fold and means passing through and through said strips and said lap and acting to bind the same rigidly together.

5. In a car-diaphragm, a plurality of strips each formed to correspond with the general contour of a diaphragnrsection and comprising two unequal sides or parts, one of which is folded or bent longitudinally to receive andvform a lap-seam with the plane portion of the next adjacent strip, a metallic rod secured in each fold or bend of the diaphragm thus formed and extending along the sides and top of the same.

6. In a car-diaphragm, a plurality of strips each formed to correspond with the general contour of a diaphragm-section and compris ing two unequal sides or parts, one of which is folded or bent longitudinally to receive and form a lap-seam with the plane portion of the next adjacent strip and metallic rods inclosed in each seam and extending across the top of the diaphragm and down each side thereof.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto sub scribed our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES H. DONALDSON. a HARRY H. SCHROYER.

Witnesses:

0. WV. HILLs, L. J. DELSON. 

